After much deliberation and email exchanges with David, I finally decided to go for the TKC shape he recommended. It arrived today and was well packed, with the bat being covered in a thick cardboard, and also was in a plastic bag. The bat is beautifully finished, with a lovely smooth feel to it. The handle is a decent size and with the ripple grip, it feels nice in the hand and doesn't need a second grip, though that's my preference. The stickers are really nice. And in general the overall product is nothing short of excellent.
Now when I contacted David my basic request was I wanted a big bat, with a mid-high middle, that picks up light. David recommended this profile in probably his second email. At first I was hesitant at going for a bat in this weight range, but he told me that this profile picks up lighter than its stated weight, and I would totally agree with him on that score because when I first picked it up this bat doesn't feel its weight, which just goes to show how good a profile this is because it's a big bat and a fair weight, but it doesn't feel it. It also has a long middle which is very responsive. Overall, the profile fits me to a tee because it picks up light, and it pings really well.
Here are the specs and some pictures:
Profile: TKC
Grade: 3 Stripe
Weight: 2lb 13oz
Edges: 38mm approx
Spine: 68mm approx
I would certainly recommend B3 Cricket to anyone looking for a new bat. I know a lot of us like our bats handmade in England, but as far as I'm concerned, the technology that B3 use to make their bats helps them create an excellent product which is finished to a high standard. They offer a huge choice of profiles, and when you factor in that you can design your own profile or tweak existing profiles, it would be very difficult not to find a bat you like and if you can't it probably doesn't exist. For me, the service and product is top notch. You can get the shape you want, in the weight you want, with the stickers and grip that you want, and it is all for a fair price. Even if you double the cost of these bats we've bought under this generous offer to their normal price point, the personal service you get from B3, combined with the ability to customise your bat to the nth degree, would be difficult to beat at the prices they charge. Great work guys. Another very happy customer here!